If you do find yourself struggling through a stalled claims process or need to appeal a decision, you can contact VA Disability Group PLLC at 844-VET-LAWS or via our online form. When applying for Social Security disability benefits, you will want to have as much corroborating medical documentation as possible. Your Polycythemia Vera (with erythrocytosis, splenomegaly, and leukocytosis or thrombocytosis) Disability Case Because they are adjudicated on the standards pertaining to the body organs and systems which are affected by the thickening of your blood rather than on the blood itself, many claims take a number of disabling conditions into account. Renal cysts, hydronephrosis, renal cell carcinoma, hepatocellular cancers and uterine myomas are known to cause increased erythropoietin secretion, thereby causing secondary polycythemia. VA Disability Group PLLC is open and actively monitoring all received communications. Aspirin therapy. It causes your blood to thicken, which increases the risk of a stroke. Key Difference – Polycythemia vs Polycythemia Vera Polycythemia is defined as an increase in red cell count, hemoglobin, and PCV. However, the recent Food and Drug Administration warning regarding the risk for venothromboembolism (VTE) has made the increases in Hb and Hct of more pertinent concern. This can cause shortness of breath, bleeding, dizziness and many serious symptoms. Polycythemia vera is a blood disease that is marked by your bone marrow producing an … On the other hand, polycythemia due to a primary derangement in the physiological mechanisms responsible for the synthesis of hemoglobin is known as primary polycythemia. Polycythemia vera is a type of blood disorder which causes the bone marrow to overproduce red blood cells. Often, even if you don’t meet any one listing for disability, the combination of effects on several body systems is enough for you to qualify for disability benefits. Polycythemia vera is a myeloproliferative disorder, a type of blood cancer that is caused by an excess production of red blood cells in your bone marrow, causing a thickening of the blood that slows down circulation. Introduction Secondary polycythemia is an important adaptative response to systemic hypoxemia. It had been previously assumed that cerebral ischemic events were due to increased blood viscosity and platelet activation within the central nervous system arterial vessels. Burning sensations of the hands or feet VA Disability Group is a law firm for military veterans and focuses exclusively on veterans’ benefit rights – fighting to ensure veterans and their dependents get the benefits they deserve from the Department of Veteran Affairs. For example, if a person is: PV is a … 25 The most common causes of secondary polycythemia include obstructive sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by an elevated RBC mass due to either a physiologically appropriate response to tissue hypoxia or physiologically inappropriate secretion of erythropoietin and/or other contributing factors. We also continue to receive all mailed documentation. Affected people may also have excess white blood cells and platelets.Conditions where the body makes too many of these cells are known as myeloproliferative neoplasms. Secondary thrombocythemia is excess platelets in the bloodstream that develops as a result of another disorder and rarely leads to excessive blood clotting or bleeding. If this condition causes a serious side effect like high blood pressure, gout, a stroke or a blood clot, then those conditions are rated separately. General information about filing for Social Security disability benefits with blood disorders can be found in Section 7.00 of the Social Security Administration’s Listing of Impairments Manual, more commonly called the Blue Book. Pain in the chest or leg muscles 9. 2974 Business One DriveKalamazoo, MI 49048. Work and disability; Voices of strength; Giving back; Contact us; All Articles; 0 . Aim. Erythrocytosis and Polycythemia Secondary to Testosterone Replacement Therapy in the Aging Male. Service connection is difficult to prove since the condition likely isn’t caused by anything that has to do with your time in service. Common complications include slower blood flow and development of blood clots. If left untreated it can lead to blood clots, or in severe cases, a heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or stroke. Does the applicant plan to stop working soon and stay out of work for at least 12 months? Common complications include slower blood flow and development of blood clots. Jones SD Jr, Dukovac T, Sangkum P, Yafi FA, Hellstrom WJ. To date, all treatments for the condition are focused on treating the symptoms and lessening the complications caused by the thickening of the blood. PTSD, Nephrolitas , Was a lurker on HadIt.com then became a member. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend the portion of the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (Rating Schedule) that addresses the hematologic and lymphatic systems. Secondary polycythaemia Secondary polycythaemia refers to elevated numbers of red blood cells not caused by bone marrow abnormalities. In providing the name of a subscriber attorney or advocate, the website does not evaluate a user’s matter, and it does not endorse or vouch for a lawyer or advocate’s credentials, abilities, competence, character, or other professional qualities. Anyone else? Secondary polycythemia is usually caused by an exposure to low oxygen over an extended amount of time. You should also get emergency medical help if you think you or someone you're with is having a heart attack or stroke. This is an Attorney Advertisement – Not an Attorney Referral Service Social Security disability examiners are able to consider a person’s residual functional capacity (what they are able to do in spite of limitations), age, education, past work activity and their ability to perform other types of work when their … How to Win Your Disability Compensation Claim for Agent Orange Exposure Even If Your Disease is NOT on the VA Presumptive List. One thing many polycythemia vera claimants have going for them is their age. Active duty military members have been shown to be more susceptible to sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea.The causes of sleep apnea in military members and Veterans can be related to toxin exposure (such as smoke from burn pits), trauma, both physical and mental, weight gain secondary to disabilities that prevent exercise, among other things. Common symptom. Burning feet in polycythemia vera and secondary erythromelalgia. Polycythemia vera (PV) is a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by an increase in morphologically normal red cells (its hallmark), but also white cells and platelets; e Ten to 30% of patients eventually develop myelofibrosis and marrow failure; acute leukemia occurs spontaneously in 1.0 to 2.5%. For the latter, the VA grants a 100 percent rating. Sudden burning and pain in feet and hands. The myelofibrosis occurring, in this case, is the natural fibrotic phase of another disease which leads to myelofibrosis. 3 secondary polycythemia … Setting: Surgical patients at a university-affiliated Veterans Administration Hospital. I think a support group would benefit many with polycythemia. Secondary polycythemia can also be classified as congenital or acquired depending upon when the individual … 2015 Apr. Patients with polycythemia vera are at high risk for vaso-occlusive events including cerebral ischemia. Your disability attorney can make all the difference between a denial and an approval. Itchiness after being exposed to warm water. Does polycythemia qualify for disability Download Here Free HealthCareMagic App to Ask a Doctor All the information, content and live chat provided on the site is intended to be for informational purposes only, and not a substitute for professional or medical advice. How bad it is. Polycythemia vera. Generally speaking, polycythemia vera cases are evaluated based on the body systems which are affected. Hubby has been ill for YEARS with one thing and another, we have rather a lot of illness/disability in the family and I always end up being the carer. Platelets (thrombocytes) are cell-like particles in the blood that help the body form blood clots. Secondary polycythemia is the overproduction of red blood cells. [21, 22] Positive JAK2 V617F mutation status with a low EPO level confirms the diagnosis of polycythemia vera.If JAK2 V617F mutation testing is negative but the EPO level is low, then testing for other mutations in exon … Unfortunately, many people with polycythemia don’t notice any symptoms until they have a stroke, heart attack, or other serious condition caused by the blood clotting. I was wondering what would be the chances of it being approved for secondary disability and what would be the best way to strengthen my case. Symptoms aren’t always easy to spot, and polycythemia vera can sneak up on you over time. The reduction in plasma volume may be due to dehydration or to reduced venous compliance; the latter is also termed stress polycythemia or Gaisböck syndrome, and is typically seen in obese middle-aged men who are … See your GP if you have persistent symptoms of polycythaemia, (see section below). It’s a rare condition. Kalamazoo, MI 49048, Digital Marketing by Crowd Control Digital, © var year = new Date();document.write(year.getFullYear()); VA Disability Group | All Rights Reserved. The blood thickening caused by polycythemia causes the blood flow to slow down. Lists and Full Guide by Top VA Disability Benefits Lawyer. Itching (pruritus) 8. Code 7704: Polycythemia vera is the opposite of anemia. 888-878-9350 Gang & Associates is dedicated to respecting the governor’s stay-at-home directive for the safety of all in light of Covid-19. To qualify for Social Security disability, you must expect to be disabled for at least 12 months. Dehydration is a common cause of relative polycythemia. How bad it is. expect to be out of work for at least 12 months? Weakness 2. Design: Retrospective chart review. Many veterans attempt to service-connect sleep apnea as a primary disability condition and can’t seem to figure our “why” the VA keeps denying your sleep apnea claim. The VA awards disability compensation for each Blood condition that is service-connected.The DoD will also rate service-connected Blood conditions as long as they also make the service member Unfit for Duty.For Reservists, the condition must have occurred in or resulted from an injury in the Line of Duty to qualify. Secondary polycythemia most often develops as a response to chronic hypoxemia, which triggers increased production of erythropoietin by the kidneys. Veterans, in this post I list more than 50 possible sleep apnea secondary conditions so veterans can win, service-connect, and rate your sleep apnea VA claim in less time.. VA revises the section of the VASRD that addresses the hematologic and lymphatic systems. Results . Secondary polycythemia can be caused by a variety of erythropoietin-producing renal lesions and cancers. If anything, this condition is a good reminder to continue scheduling regular physicals with your doctor as you grow older, and schedule blood tests where conditions like these can be spotted. When a disability claim is handled on a contingency basis, the attorney is paid 25 percent – not to exceed $6,000 – of the backpay that the claimant is entitled to receive. I changed my diet to no red meat, no alcohol, and I take 2 aspirins each day. Secondary polycythemia resolves when the underlying cause is treated. You will need the results of all lab tests which were used to confirm that you have polycythemia vera. If a person is unable to work because of the limitations of PV, they may be approved for disability through a medical vocational allowance. What Conditions Qualify You For Disability? This can cause shortness of breath, bleeding, dizziness and many serious symptoms. Secondary polycythemia. Ruddy complexion 10. Veterans, in this post I list more than 50 possible sleep apnea secondary conditions so veterans can win, service-connect, and rate your sleep apnea VA claim in less time.. This condition can be due to different causes. Generally, these clots respond well to aspirin if they are noticed. There’s no cure, but you can control PV through treatment. The condition sometimes also causes the body to produce too many platelets and white blood cells. These disorders cause the blood to thicken, which leads to a number of adverse conditions. Thankfully, the VA includes this condition in its rating schedule, so as long as you present a strong case with medical evidence to support it, you should be able to earn compensation, regardless of the difficulty in proving service connection. Some connection to toxic chemicals is suspected but not adequately proven. Neither this site, nor any lawyer or advocate associated with it, is affiliated in any way with, or endorsed by, the Social Security Administration. In order to qualify for benefits, you need to show that the sum of your conditions is serious enough that you can’t perform any kind of meaningful work. It's not clear what causes the mutation that leads to polycythemia vera. Disability-Benefits-Help.org is not a lawyer or a law firm. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews , 20 (1). VARSD does rate polycythemia Vera, a hereditary disease but I have not seen a case yet where they have approved polycythemia as secondary. secondary polycythemia: Definition Secondary polycythemia is an acquired form of a rare disorder characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of mature red cells in the blood. Quick diagnostic work up check list for polycythemia vera. Most Social Security disability claimants benefit from the help of a Social Security disability lawyer. The Social Security Administration (SSA) oversees the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, which provides monthly … 7704 Polycythemia vera: Requiring peripheral blood or bone marrow stem-cell transplant or chemotherapy (including myelosuppressants) for the purpose of ameliorating the symptom burden ... Six months after discontinuance of such treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Common symptoms reported by people with secondary polycythemia. Secondary polycythemia would more accurately be called secondary erythrocytosis or erythrocythemia, as those terms specifically denote increased red blood cells. secondary polycythaemia – too many red blood cells are produced as the result of an underlying condition ; Polycythaemia vera (PV) PV is rare. Hi Antonio - The issue you are facing is the diagnosis in the right shoulder. The SSA holds a very narrow definition of what counts as disability. The body attempts to compensate for the deficiency by manufacturing more hemoglobin and erythrocytes. How bad it is. Low dose aspirin has been shown to reduce complications. So what makes it important for veterans? In secondary polycythemia, the number of red blood cells (RBCs) is increased as a result of an underlying condition. In some cases, the blood takes twice as long to circulate through the body than it would in a healthy body. A user who requests a free evaluation will be provided with the name of a subscriber lawyer or advocate who will contact the user to do the evaluation. Reply Delete. 2974 Business One Drive For starters, it was at one time the only myeloproliferative disorder that the VA evaluated in its rating schedule. Symptoms of secondary polycythemia are the same as those for primary polycythemia and may include: 1. Polycythemia vera (PV) is a rare bone marrow disorder in which the body makes too many red blood cells. Causes. If you have a runny nose and sinus headaches that put you on your back more than a couple of times a year, you might be eligible for VA disability for chronic sinusitis. By submitting a request for a free evaluation, I acknowledge that I understand and agree to the disclaimer and privacy policy. Learn more about our experienced Kalamazoo VA disability attorneys. Filing for Social Security Disability with a Polycythemia Vera (with erythrocytosis, splenomegaly, and leukocytosis or thrombocytosis) Diagnosis. Since the service connection isn’t that easy to prove, it’s good news that polycythemia vera is rare, to begin with. What people are taking for it . Further, if you are over the age of 50, your likelihood of approval goes up substantially. Additionally, you may apply for Social Security Disability on the basis of any physical or medical disability condition (including blood disorders) which leaves you completely unable to perform any of the work which you have done in the past. 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